One in four children here is overweight or obese, it has been revealed.

Medics warned youngsters need to eat less and move more to beat the obesity epidemic sweeping the country.

The HSE, Safefood.ie and Healthy Ireland have launched a public health campaign to tackle the growing problem.

They are hoping that by highlighting everyday habits associated with weight gain, the issue can be tackled by parents before there are long-term health risks.

Cliodhna Foley Nolan, director of Human Health At Safefood, said we need to take action now.

She added: “Essentially, we have a generation of children where one in four of them is overweight or obese.

“Basically there are major health risks coming down the line unless we take action. We have a 14-year-old child, a boy, who is three-and-a-half stone heavier than his grandfather was 50 or 60 years ago.”

Parents have been called on to make practical changes to everyday lifestyle habits such as giving youngsters smaller portion sizes and fewer treats and exercise.

Lynn Ni Bhaoigheallain, chair of the Safefood advisory board, added: “We all want children to have a bright future and we get them into all sorts of healthy habits, like brushing their teeth or crossing the road safely.

“This campaign is about supporting parents in making small changes in their everyday family lives.”

Meanwhile, a leading US medical expert has expressed concern over Ireland’s obesity crisis declaring we are “not far behind the US” with 60% of Irish adults overweight.

Prof John E Lewis said: “I would be very concerned. The overweight/obesity crisis is a globalproblem. If Ireland is the seventh most obese country in the world, it would be difficult to move out of the top 10 in less than two years.”